Los Angeles, CA vs San Diego, CA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | San DiegoSan Diego, CA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Good | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Moderate | Moderate | Same |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
31.1 minutes is the average commute in Los Angeles, CA, versus 23.9 minutes in San Diego, CA, per 2023 Census figures. That 7-minute gap places Los Angeles in the 89th percentile for commute length and San Diego in the 54th. Unemployment also separates the two: Los Angeles posts 5.8% (97th percentile) while San Diego is at 4.3% (78th percentile). Poverty rates follow a similar pattern, with Los Angeles at 16.5% and San Diego at 11.1%, a 5.4-point difference.
Income figures show San Diego ahead across the board. Median household income is $104,321 there versus $80,366 in Los Angeles, a 30% difference, and per-capita income runs $54,678 compared to $46,270. Bachelor's degree attainment among adults is 49.9% in San Diego versus 37.8% in Los Angeles, a 12.1-point gap. San Diego also sits in the 80th percentile for household income, while Los Angeles is in the 59th.
Crime rates skew higher in Los Angeles. Violent crime stands at 668 per 100,000 people versus 372 in San Diego, an 80% difference, with Los Angeles in the 92nd percentile and San Diego in the 75th. Property crime is 2,248 per 100,000 in Los Angeles compared to 1,539 in San Diego, 46% higher. San Diego's violent crime trend is falling while Los Angeles's is rising. Median rent is $2,223 in San Diego versus $1,879 in Los Angeles, 18% higher, though median home values are close at $848,500 and $879,500.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Los Angeles or San Diego?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 22293rd pctl | 23594th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Los Angeles, CA 222; San Diego, CA 235; San Diego is 6% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $879,50094th pctl | $848,50094th pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,87988th pctl | $2,22395th pctl | Median rent: Los Angeles, CA $1,879; San Diego, CA $2,223; San Diego is 18% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $80,36659th pctl | $104,32180th pctl | Median household income: Los Angeles, CA $80,366; San Diego, CA $104,321; San Diego is 30% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $127,16192nd pctl | $130,15493rd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $186,92692nd pctl | $191,32693rd pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in San Diego needs about
$79,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 222 vs 235). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.8%97th pctl | 4.3%78th pctl | Unemployment: Los Angeles, CA 5.8%; San Diego, CA 4.3%; Los Angeles is 1.5 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.2%55th pctl | +0.7%38th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $46,27071st pctl | $54,67883rd pctl | Per-capita income: Los Angeles, CA $46,270; San Diego, CA $54,678; San Diego is 18% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.5%72nd pctl | 11.1%48th pctl | Poverty rate: Los Angeles, CA 16.5%; San Diego, CA 11.1%; Los Angeles is 5.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 31.1 min89th pctl | 23.9 min54th pctl | Average commute: Los Angeles, CA 31.1 min; San Diego, CA 23.9 min; Los Angeles is 7 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 17.3%77th pctl | 19.2%81st pctl | Work from home: Los Angeles, CA 17.3%; San Diego, CA 19.2%; San Diego is 1.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Stable | Job market: Los Angeles, CA C-; San Diego, CA B-; San Diego is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 66892nd pctl | 37275th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Los Angeles, CA 668; San Diego, CA 372; Los Angeles is 80% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,24882nd pctl | 1,53959th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Los Angeles, CA 2,248; San Diego, CA 1,539; Los Angeles is 46% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Los Angeles, CA F; San Diego, CA D+; San Diego is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Poor | Poor | Tap water: Los Angeles, CA D; San Diego, CA F; Los Angeles is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in California, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See California →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 8 mi8th pctl | Nearest large city: Los Angeles, CA 0 mi; San Diego, CA 8 mi; San Diego is 8 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Los Angeles, CA D+; San Diego, CA C; San Diego is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 123 mi13th pctl | 20 mi2nd pctl | Distance to international border: Los Angeles, CA 123 mi; San Diego, CA 20 mi; Los Angeles is 6.2 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 12 mi11th pctl | 5 mi6th pctl | Distance to coastline: Los Angeles, CA 12 mi; San Diego, CA 5 mi; Los Angeles is 2.4 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,857,897100th pctl | 1,385,061100th pctl | Population: Los Angeles, CA 3,857,897; San Diego, CA 1,385,061; Los Angeles is 2.8 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 8,19997th pctl | 4,24888th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Los Angeles, CA 8,199; San Diego, CA 4,248; Los Angeles is 93% higher. |
| Median age | 36.940th pctl | 3633rd pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.8%63rd pctl | 49.9%79th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Los Angeles, CA 37.8%; San Diego, CA 49.9%; San Diego is 12.1 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.672nd pctl | 2.663rd pctl | About the same |
More about Los Angeles's residents · San Diego's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | San DiegoSan Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+17 | D+13 |
| 2024 presidential | D +31.0 pts | D +23.0 pts |
Full politics data: Los Angeles · San Diego
Moving between Los Angeles and San Diego
- Median rent: $1,879 in Los Angeles, $2,223 in San Diego
- Median home value: $879,500 in Los Angeles, $848,500 in San Diego
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 222 in Los Angeles, 235 in San Diego
- Median household income: $80,366 in Los Angeles, $104,321 in San Diego
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $186,926 in Los Angeles, $191,326 in San Diego
- Unemployment: 5.8% in Los Angeles, 4.3% in San Diego
- Average commute: 31.1 min in Los Angeles, 23.9 min in San Diego
- Violent crime per 100k: 668 in Los Angeles, 372 in San Diego
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Los Angeles and San Diego against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Los Angeles or San Diego?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
People also compare
More places like Los Angeles and San Diego
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.